Pipe joint and the like



July 19, 1932- D. H. B. REYNOLDS 1,867,891

PIPE JOINT AND THE LIKE Filed May 22. 1929 2 Sheng-sheet l 1l 'L j 7 f M5 [if July 19 1932- D. H. B. REYNOLDS 1,867,891

PIPE JOINT AND THE LIKE Filed May 22, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 force to prevent fluid i Patented July` 1932 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE JOINT AND THE LIKE Application led May 22, 1929, Serial No. 364,963, and in Great Britain May 26, 1928.

This invention relates to improvements in vpackings for joints of all kinds in which a flanged element o' resilient and elastic material containing fluid under pressure is relied upon to eiiect sealing.

' The invention, in particular, is applicable to-pipe joints of the kind in whicha flanged element engages with the ends oi the pipes to be connected said element in some cases being enclosed within a sheathing which may have means for restraining inadvertent dissociation of the pipes by longitudinal movement.

. The invention has for its object the provision of means whereby leakage past the packing is restrained in both directions', said restraints being ofequal value if so desired.'

When the invention is applied to pipe joints leakage from the pipes to the exterior l 2." thereof and leakage from the exterior of the pipes tothe interior thereof can be prevented in a more reliable, convenient and economical v manner than has been possible hitherto.

In the past'it has been 'proposed to employ 95' deformable jointing rings having flanges or lips, a web and side walls for connecting said flanges or lips to said web; means being provided to press the flanges or lips into contact with the surface of the pipe byhydraulic and "0' by non hydraulic forces so as to prevent leakage; but'whilst the outer edgesr of the flanges.

' 'may have been firmly `held in place,l in the c'ase of the inner edges reliance has always hitherto been placed upon the continued resilience of the deformable j ointing ring, to press them against the pipe ends with sufficient from penetrating 'beneath them, I v The invention consists in the application of pressure by the sheath through the web to i the margins of the 'flanges nearest to the pipe ends to maintain said margins in place.

In the drawings Figure 1 is across section through one f orm of pipe jointingelement constructed in l accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 illustrates in'cross section such a ring as is' illustrated in Figurel associated o withthe 'ends of two pipes which are eccentrically arranged;

Figure 3 is a cross section through a'joint similar to that illustrated in Figure 2 after a housing or sheath has been placed in lposition; Figure 4 is a cross section through a pipe 55 jointing element, formed in accordance with this invention, adapted to withstand comparatively high external pressures;

Figure 5 is a cro'ss section through a pipe joint, employing the elementillustrated in 60 Figure 4, in which the ends of the pipes are leccentrically arranged and the said element is enclosed within a sheath;

Figure 6 is a cross section through a pipe jointing element especially constructed to resist high external pressures;

Figure 7 is a cross section through a pipe joint, employing the element illustrated in Figure 6 which is located upon the ends of two pipes eccentrically arranged and enclosed within the sheath or housing;

Figure 8 is a cross sectional view of a pipe` v jointing element of modified form;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view of-a pipe jointing element somewhat similar tov that illustrated in Figure 8 but arranged to re' sist higher external pressures than the forni illustrated in Figure 8;

v Figure 10 is a cross sectionalview of a pipe jointing element in -which the use of trian- 8o gular shaped flanges is avoided; n

Figure 11 is a cross sectional view of a pipe jointing element .formed of a thin sheet of soft metal;

Figure 12 is a front elevation of a two part 85 housing suitable for use with any ofthe pipe 'jointing elements illustrated in the preceding iigures but obviously such housing `may be made in three or more sections; Y

Figure 13 is a front elevationof especially 90 arranged housing adapted to apply pressure to the pipe jointing 'element ina graduatedl manner so as to avoid'the introduction of. local tensional or compressional stresses in the element due to the application 'of the 95 sheath or housing;

. Figure 14 is a cross sectional view through Y' a pipe joint showing in elevation one of the clamps adapted to engage-with groovesin or projectionson the plpes to be jointed .and

- are separated by '.Asillustratedin rires and 7 external trian provided on the side walls d so as to increaseprevent longitudinalv displacement 'of `one pige relative to the other pipe erspecti've view of a pipe Q gure 15 is a aving the cross section il- ]ointing element A"Instr-ated' in Figure l;

Fi e 16 is a erspective view of a pipe plating element aving the cross section 1llustrated in Figure 1i, l

The pipe jointing element a illustrated in Figures l-l `comprises an outer part or web angee c and side walls del connecting the anges ce respectively to the web b, the surfaces of the flanges ec for contact with the surfaces of the pipes being cylindrical, angularly arranged with respect' to one another or suitably shaped relative to the contour of surfaces of the endslgg of the pipes asshown. igures 4, 5 and 9, the side walls d have the external surfaces thereof angularly arranged s o as to enable the jointing element a to resist greater external pressures than is possible' with the form illustrated in -Figure 1 and in the form illustrated in Figlar flanges e are still further the resistance to leakage under external pressure'. Ineach case, the jointing element is.` made of deformable material, 'such for instance, as rubber, rubber compounds, rubber substitutes, lead, copper and analogous materials or substances.

The bore of the element aas illustrated in triangular llanges ce face vent any risk one another when distorted in use.

` jointmg to establish `Each ofthe flan es c as illustrated in'Figures 1'9 is provid with either perforations la as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, or slots Vi, as illustrated in'Figures 4 and 5, said peror slots y' being arranged so as communicationv between the space between the bases of the flanges cc and the pockets f which are formed when the jointing 'element is com ressed into s1tion upon theen gg of the piplels as ustrated in Figures 2, 3, 5 and Y. use, an element having a suitable internal diameter is passed over the two ends K' of the pipesv to be joined anda casing or ousing k is externalleapplied to said elesucient, force ing exerted forations h ment,

Y d .ing the application-of the housingk to com lress eilected within a certain range ial stress adds to .to lea age into the pipes from the is increased by the addition of anularjsurl e flanges ftorted by the inner surface of the web b into contact with the internal corner of each ofthe flanges e and more or less distort the 'parts into engagement as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 for example. By this means it will be seen that regardless of axial eccentricity of the pipes thev extreme inner periphery of each o 'he flanges c -of the element a is forced firmly into contact with the outer surfaces of the ends gg of the pipes. to be joined by a belt of nonhydraulic forces and that a 4further part of the flanges is forced firmly into contact with said outer surfaces by a belt of hydraulic forces producedl by the liquid in the pockets f.

The limits of construction involved enable satisfactory jointing of the pipes to be of axial displacement of said pipes' and when' such maximum' eccentricity is `reached then the 'jointing surface of one greatest eccentricityV will lbe lpressed into flange e at thel pointV of f contact completely with'thsiirface of the pipe throughout its' whole width by nonhydraulic forces whilst the jcinting surface of the associated angec will only engage with the external surface ofl the associated pipe under the influencev of Inonhydraulic forces l on a belt of comparatively small width.v

Although high fluid pressures may cause the sheath to'stretch-untilvthe forces ressl ing the flanges .agai'nst vthe pipe en s arewholly hydraulic, yet

sure is s11ghtly reducd,the consequent conl traction of the sheath produces therequired lwhen the fluid pres pressureupon the 'edges of the deformable g flanges, even thoughsuch flanges may have ceased to be resilient',

In this Way the' tendency ofknown ,i y 'oints to ,leakk at low pressures, particullxirl;A when the yjointing element is no longer new,

has been entirely/overcome.. L@

It will be seen that leakage from the pipesV l to the exterior thereof-is entirely prevented,

d in the form of element illustrated in Fig-l ures 1, 2 and 3 by the hydraulic forces exerted on the flanges cc by the pressure within the pipes and that anyleakage from the exterior into the pipes is lprevented by the nonhydraulic forces exerted ontheielement a by the housing k.

In the form of jointing element-illustrated res 4 and 5 in which the resistance exterior in Fi faces on the parts d connecting t c to the web b each of the ianges, c' is distwo forces so 'that said ganges cc not only engage with the external vsurfaces of the pipes to be joined by means of the margins f the anges. in proximity'with one another but alsoby the margins remote from one another thus producing Yarched conditions as is illustrated in Figure!) a `belt of hydraulic forces being arranged between two belts of nonhydraulic forces, the widths of the belts of contactv between `the jointing surfaces of the flanges c andthe external surfaces of the ends gg of the pipes being dependent upon the pressure exerted by the housing k which is distributed bytheamount of axial eccentricityy in the pipes jointing surfaces of the flanges ce when on' the opposite side of the element contact# placed in position ony the ends gg of the pipes.

To increase still further the resistance of .the'joint to leakage inwards from external sources the element a may comprise not only a web b, two flanges c, connecting parts dal but also externally arranged flanges ee, said flanges ee having perforations h1 forgcommunicatin the external pressure to the pocket f1 ormed between the upper surface of' the external flange e and inner surface of the housing la. Alternatively tol the perforations h1, slots similar to the slots j, al-

ready illustrated in Figure 4 for example,

may be employed. Alternatively the housing Ic may be provided with passages k1 adapted to serve the same purpose.

Upon examination of Figure 6 it will be seen that the internal surface of each of the duplex flanges cc is formed as an arch the configuration of which is angular or curved, the whole of the contacting surfaces comprising twov arches separated by the space between the flanges c.

When such an element a is disposed upon the ends gg of the pipesv as illustrated in Figure 7 any lack of concentricity i`s easily allowed for withinthe limits of construction'as owing vto the fit of the element over the ends of the pipes there is a minimum of initiall strain and ample provision is made for'the distention and deformation of the material down into intimate contact with the end g ofl that pipe the axis of which is disposed above the axis of the other pipe by .a broad belt of nonhydraulic pressure, the flanges c and e ing with the external surface of the vpipe g associated therewith by narrow belts of nonhydraulic forces at the margins only as illustrated in Figure 7 To prevent longitudinal displacement of the pipes relative to one another, said pipes, may be provided with raised portions as illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 5, or grooves as Aillustrated in Figure. 7 with which parts of thefhousing c engage or alternatively the housing lo may be arranged to pass easily over the flanges of the pipes, movement of the pipes g relative tc one another being prelvented by suitably arranged clamps l aslillustrated in Figure 14:..` i

` To enable the improved pipe jointing elementto be quickly and cheaply produced by modern extrusion methods, the cross sections hereinbefore described may be somewhat modified so as to produce the shape illustrated in. Figure 8 for example. In this form, it will vbe seen that the body of the element ais provided with two tunnels m and a groove n, the groove n communicating with the tunnels mm by means of passages 0 s as to produce in effect an element comprising a" web b, flanges ce and parts .dal connecting the flanges cc respectively `with the web b and adapted to function in a manner comparable with the forms illustrated in Figures l and 2.

The cross section illustrated in Figure 9 is also suitable. for extrusion and 'enables a pipe jointing element adapted to function in a manner compara-bley with the forms illustrated in Figure 4 to be easilyv produced by Asuch means.

v Extruded elements may conveniently be spliced around pipes which have already been placed in position.

In the alternative form illustrated in Figure 10 the web b is formed with an internally arranged protuberance b1 for contact with the flanges cc, slots b2 being'arranged inthe protuberance b1 for purposes hereinbefore detionable for any reason metal may be 'employed. In such case copper or the like will be suitable providedv that no chemical act1on is likely to arise. Figure 11 illustrates one form of cross section whiclrwill enable the invention to be carried into effect with a metal such as copper,tinalloy or the like.

In actual practice it'has been found that although a housing 7c such as is illustratedin Figure l2'gives moderately satisfactory results, difficulties are introduced in many ofv the varied conditions which exist owing to the engagement parts of the housing c with the element a before the bolts pp are fully tightened with the result that upon continued tightening of the bolts pp defective )omtmg is apt to arise. To overcome this, the housing c may coml prise two flexible parts gg which are noncircular in shape as illustrated in Figures 13 and initially only engage with very small v of the disadvantages attendant to pipe joints areas of the element a. Upon screwing up thenuts on the bolts pp of such a housing is the parts gg are gradually deformed into circular shape and enwrap the element a until it is fully enclosed within the housing 7c the pressure of the housing Zf: being then evenly distributed over the whole of the element a.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that by the use of this invention many of known form are overcome. Owing to the absence'of any substantial bending moment on the flanges which effect the actual seal theintegrity of the joint Jformed in accordance with this invention is unaffected by change of condition such as, for example,

change from dry condition to wet condition or vice versa when 'a nonmetallic substance is employed and is unaffected by the progress i of time inasmuch as no parts are maintained in sealing condition under the influence of circumferential contraction.

Although 'for the purposes of explanation thefconstructions illustrated show the im- Y proved packing asa deformable jointin'g ele:

ment externally arranged relative to the bore of the pipes, when large pipes subjectto an external pressure normally in excess of the internal pressure are to be jointed, the jointing elements and housings therefor may be arranged internally of said pipes.

1. 4A packing for pipe joints of all kinds having in combination a deformable jointing element with two' flanges each of which has ternally applied forces transmitted radially through the web connecting the said flanges,-

two side walls for connectingthe anges to .the web and for transmitting externally applied forces to the margins of the flanges remote from the free margins, conduits in each of said flanges for the passage of fluid. to-

the space enclosed by 'a flange a side wall and the web from the space between the flanges, and a sheath for enclosing the exi terior of the deformablejointing element and l producing said forces.

4. A packing for pipe joints of allkinds having in combination-a deformable jointlng element with two flanges interiorly arranged, thefree margins of which are pressed into contact with the surfaces of the pipes being jointed by externally applied forces transmitted radially through the web connecting the said anges, conduits in each of said flanges for the passageuof fluid to thespace enclosed by'a flange and the web from the' space between the flanges; two flanges ex- Y' teriorly arranged, the free margins of whichl are pressed into contact with the surfaces of' two free margins, one pair. of free margins being pressed-into Contact with the surfacesl ofthe pipes being jointedby externally applied orces transmitted radially through the web connecting the said ilanges and one pair of4 free margins. being pressed into contact with the surfaces oi' the pipes being jointed by external forces'applied thereto directly;

vand a sheath for enclosing the exterior of said deformablejointing element and producing said forces.

2. A packing for pipe joints of all kinds f havlng in combination a deformable ointing element with two a'nges, the 'free margins of which are pressed into contact with the *surfaces of the pipes being jointed'by externally applied forcesl transmitted 'radially through the web connecting the said flanges,

in each of said flanges conduits for the'passage of huid to the space enclosed by a flan e and the web from'the space between' t 'e flanges and a sheath for enclosing the exterior ofthe deformable jointing element and A producing said forces. A A packing for pipe joints of all Ends i' having in combination a deformable -jointing' element withA two ianges, the free marginsA of which are pressed into contact with the A A surfaces ofthe pipes beingjointed by-,QX 

